Method and apparatus for simultaneously removing multiple conductive materials from microelectronic substrates

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for simultaneously removing conductive materials from a microelectronic substrate. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes contacting a surface of a microelectronic substrate with an electrolytic liquid, the microelectronic substrate having first and second different conductive materials. The method can further include controlling a difference between a first open circuit potential of the first conducive material and a second open circuit potential of the second conductive material by selecting a pH of the electrolytic liquid. The method can further include simultaneously removing at least portions of the first and second conductive materials by passing a varying electrical signal through the electrolytic liquid and the conductive materials. Accordingly, the effects of galvanic interactions between the two conductive materials can be reduced and/or eliminated.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to the following pending U.S. PatentApplications, all of which are incorporated herein by reference: Ser.No. 09/651,779 (Attorney Docket 10829.8515US), filed Aug. 30, 2000; Ser.No. 09/651,808 (Client Docket 00-0036), filed Aug. 30, 2000; Ser. No.09/653,392 (Client Docket 00-0130), filed Aug. 31, 2000; Ser. No.09/888,084 (Attorney Docket 10829.8515US01), filed Jun. 21, 2001; Ser.No. 09/887,767 (Attorney Docket 10829.8515US02), filed Jun. 21, 2001;and Ser. No. 09/888,002 (Attorney Docket 10829.8515US03) filed Jun. 21,2001. Also incorporated herein by reference are the following U.S.Patent Applications filed simultaneously herewith: 10/______ (AttorneyDocket 10829.8515US06); 10/______ (Attorney Docket 10829.8515US07);10/______ (Attorney Docket 10829.8515US08); 10/______ (Attorney Docket10829.8672); and 10/______ (Attorney Docket 10829.8673).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is directed toward methods and apparatuses forsimultaneously removing multiple conductive materials frommicroelectronic substrates.

BACKGROUND

Microelectronic substrates and substrate assemblies typically include asemiconductor material having features, such as memory cells, that arelinked with conductive lines. The conductive lines can be formed byfirst forming trenches or other recesses in the semiconductor materialand then overlaying a conductive material (such as a metal) in thetrenches. The conductive material is then selectively removed to leaveconductive lines or vias extending from one feature in the semiconductormaterial to another.

FIG. 1 is a partially schematic illustration of a portion of amicroelectronic substrate 10 having a conductive line formed inaccordance with the prior art. The microelectronic substrate 10 includesan aperture or recess 16 in an oxide material 13. A barrier layer 14,formed from materials such as tantalum or tantalum compounds, isdisposed on the microelectronic substrate 10 and in the aperture 16. Aconductive material 15, such as copper, is then disposed on the barrierlayer 14. The barrier layer 14 can prevent copper atoms from migratinginto the surrounding oxide 13.

In a typical existing process, two separate chemical-mechanicalplanarization (CMP) steps are used to remove the excess portions of theconductive material 15 and the barrier layer 14 from the microelectronicsubstrate 10. In one step, a first slurry and polishing pad are used toremove the conductive material 15 overlying the barrier layer 14external to the aperture 16, thus exposing the barrier layer 14. In aseparate step, a second slurry and a second polishing pad are then usedto remove the barrier layer 14 (and the remaining conductive material15) external to the aperture 16. The resulting conductive line 8includes the conductive material 15 surrounded by a lining formed by thebarrier layer 14.

One drawback with the foregoing process is that high downforces aretypically required to remove copper and tantalum from themicroelectronic substrate 10. High downforces can cause other portionsof the microelectronic substrate 10 to become dished or eroded, and/orcan smear structures in other parts of the microelectronic substrate 10.A further drawback is that high downforces typically are not compatiblewith soft substrate materials. However, it is often desirable to usesoft materials, such as ultra low dielectric materials, around theconductive features to reduce and/or eliminate electrical couplingbetween these features.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed toward methods and apparatuses forsimultaneously removing multiple conductive materials from amicroelectronic substrate. A method in accordance with one aspect of theinvention includes contacting a surface of a microelectronic substratewith an electrolytic liquid, the microelectronic substrate having afirst conductive material and a second conductive material differentthan the first. The method can still further include controlling anabsolute value of a difference between a first open circuit potential ofthe first conductive material and a second open circuit potential of thesecond conductive material by selecting a pH of the electrolytic liquid.The method can further include simultaneously removing at least portionsof the first and second conductive materials by passing a varyingelectrical signal through the electrolytic liquid and the conductivematerials while the electrolytic liquid contacts the microelectronicsubstrate.

In a further aspect of the invention, wherein the first conductivematerial includes tungsten and the second conductive material includescopper, the method can include controlling an absolute value of adifference between the first open circuit potential and the second opencircuit potential to be about 0.50 volts or less by selecting the pH ofthe electrolytic liquid to be from about 2 to about 5. The conductivematerials can be removed simultaneously by passing an electrical signalfrom a first electrode spaced apart from the microelectronic substrate,through the electrolytic liquid to the first and second conductivematerials and from the first and second conductive materials through theelectrolytic liquid to a second electrode spaced apart from the firstelectrode and spaced apart from the microelectronic substrate.

A method in accordance with another aspect of the invention includesproviding a microelectronic substrate having a first conductive materialand a second conductive material different than the first. The methodcan further include disposing on the microelectronic substrate anelectrolytic liquid having a pH that controls a difference between afirst open circuit potential of the first conductive material and asecond open circuit potential on the second conductive material. Themethod can further include simultaneously removing at least portions ofthe first and second conductive materials by passing a variableelectrical signal through the electrolytic liquid and the conductivematerials while the electrolytic liquid contacts the microelectronicsubstrate.

An electrolytic liquid in accordance with another embodiment of theinvention can include a liquid carrier and an electrolyte disposed inthe liquid carrier. The electrolyte can be configured to transmitelectrical signals from an electrode to the first and second conductivematerials of the microelectronic substrate. A pH of the electrolyticliquid can be from about 2 to about 5.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially schematic, cross-sectional view of a portion of amicroelectronic substrate having multiple conductive materials processedin accordance with the prior art.

FIGS. 2A-2C are partially schematic, cross-sectional illustrations of aportion of a microelectronic substrate having multiple conductivematerials processed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a partially schematic, cross-sectional view of a portion of amicroelectronic substrate having multiple conductive materials processedin accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a partially schematic illustration of an apparatus forelectrolytically removing conductive materials from a microelectronicsubstrate in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a partially schematic illustration of an apparatus forelectrolytically removing conductive materials from a microelectronicsubstrate in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a partially schematic illustration of an apparatus forelectrolytically, chemically-mechanically and/orelectrochemically-mechanically removing conductive material from amicroelectronic substrate in accordance with still another embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 7 is a partially schematic, isometric view of a portion of anembodiment of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a partially schematic, isometric illustration of a portion ofan apparatus for removing conductive material from a microelectronicsubstrate in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of a waveform for electrolyticallyprocessing a microelectronic substrate in accordance with still anotherembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure describes methods and apparatuses for removingconductive materials from a microelectronic substrate. The term“microelectronic substrate” is used throughout to include a substrateupon which and/or in which microelectronic circuits or components, datastorage elements or layers, and/or micro-mechanical elements arefabricated. Features in the substrate can include submicron features(having submicron dimensions ranging from, for example, 0.1 micron to0.75 micron) such as trenches, vias, lines and holes. It will beappreciated that several of the details set forth below are provided todescribe the following embodiments in a manner sufficient to enable aperson skilled in the relevant art to make and use the disclosedembodiments. Several of the details and advantages described below,however, may not be necessary to practice certain embodiments of theinvention. Additionally, the invention can include other embodimentsthat are within the scope of the claims but are not described in detailwith respect to FIG. 2A-9.

One approach for addressing some of the drawbacks described above withreference to FIG. 1 is to remove conductive materials from themicroelectronic substrate with electrolytic processes. Accordingly, avoltage is applied to the conductive material in the presence of anelectrolytic liquid to remove the conductive material. However, manyexisting electrolytic liquids cannot simultaneously remove copper andtantalum, once the tantalum barrier layer has been exposed. Accordingly,chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) techniques are typically used toremove the exposed tantalum barrier layer and the adjacent coppermaterial. However, this approach typically re-introduces the highdownforces that the initial electrolytic process was intended to avoid.Accordingly, another approach has been to replace the tantalum barrierlayer with a tungsten barrier layer. However, tungsten (and tungstencompounds) typically form a galvanic couple with copper, which resultsin one or the other of these materials corroding and dissolving at anuncontrolled rate. The following disclosure describes methods andapparatuses for overcoming this drawback.

FIG. 2A is a partially schematic, cross-sectional side view of amicroelectronic substrate 210 prior to electrolytic processing inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. In one aspect of thisembodiment, the microelectronic substrate 210 includes a substratematerial 213, such as an oxide or a low dielectric constant material.The substrate material 213 includes a substrate material surface 217having an aperture 216 formed by conventional processes, such asselective etch processes. A first conductive material 218 is disposed onthe substrate material 213 and can form a barrier layer 214 along thewalls of the aperture 216. A second conductive material 209, such as ablanket fill material, can be disposed on the first conductive material218 to form a fill layer 219. In one embodiment, the first conductivematerial 218 can include tungsten (W) or a tungsten compound, such astungsten nitride (WN_(x)), and the second conductive material 209 caninclude copper or copper alloys such as alloys that include at least 50%copper. In other embodiments, these conductive materials can includeother elements or compounds. In any of these embodiments, the firstconductive material 218 and the second conductive material 209 cancollectively define a conductive portion 211 of the microelectronicsubstrate 210.

To form an isolated conductive line within the aperture 216, the firstconductive material 218 and second conductive material 219 external tothe aperture 216 are typically removed. In one embodiment, the secondconductive material 209 is removed using a CMP process. In otherembodiments, an electrochemical-mechanical polishing (ECMP) process oran electrolytic process is used to remove the second conductive material209. An advantage of electrolytic and ECMP processes is that thedownforce applied to the microelectronic substrate 210 during processingcan be reduced or eliminated. Apparatuses for performing these processesare described in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 4-9. Inany of these embodiments, the result after completing this portion ofthe process is a microelectronic substrate 210 having the secondconductive material 209 external to the aperture 216 and external to thebarrier layer 214 removed, as is shown in FIG. 2B.

Referring now to FIG. 2B, a process in accordance with one embodiment ofthe invention includes simultaneously, electrolytically removing theportions of the second conductive material 209 and the first conductivematerial 218 that extend beyond the substrate material surface 217 afterthe initial removal process described above with reference to FIG. 2A.Accordingly, in one aspect of this embodiment, an electrolytic liquid231 can be disposed on the microelectronic substrate 210 and a pair ofelectrodes 220 (shown as a first electrode 220 a and a second electrode220 b) can be positioned in electrical communication with theelectrolytic liquid 231. The electrodes 220 can be coupled to a variablesignal transmitter 221 (such as a variable current source) to provide avarying electrical signal to both the first conductive material 218 andthe second conductive material 209. These conductive materials can besimultaneously removed via an electrolytic process

In a further aspect of this embodiment, the pH of the electrolyticliquid 231 is selected to control the difference between the opencircuit potential of the first conductive material 218 and the opencircuit potential of the second conductive material 209. As used herein,the difference in open circuit potentials between the first conductivematerial 218 and the second conductive material 209 refers to thedifference in electrical potential that would result when measuring thevoltage difference between the first conductive material 218 and thesecond conductive material 209 in the presence of the electrolyticliquid 231, but in the absence of any current applied by the signaltransmitter 221. In a particular aspect of this embodiment, for example,when the first conductive material 218 includes tungsten and the secondconductive material 209 includes copper, the pH of the electrolyticliquid 231 can be selected to be from about 2 to about 5 to produce adifference in open circuit potential of from about 0.50 volts to about−0.50 volts. In other words, the absolute value of the difference inopen circuit potential can be about 0.50 volts or less. In otherembodiments, the absolute value of the difference in open circuitpotential can be about 0.25 volts or less, for example, 0.15 volts orless. In still further embodiments, the pH of the electrolytic liquid231 can have other values to produce near-zero open circuit potentialdifferentials for other combinations of first conductive materials 218and second conductive materials 209. For example, in one embodiment, theelectrolytic liquid 231 can have a pH of from about 0 to about 7.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the first and second conductivematerials 218, 209 can be removed simultaneously without necessarilybeing removed at the same rates. For example, in one embodiment forwhich the first conductive material 218 includes tungsten or a tungstencompound and the second conductive material 209 includes copper, thecopper can be removed at about four times the rate at which the tungstenor tungsten compound is removed. In other embodiments, the first andsecond conductive materials 218, 209 can be removed at rates that varyby greater or lesser amounts.

In one embodiment, the pH of the electrolytic liquid 231 can becontrolled by disposing an acid in the electrolytic liquid 231.Accordingly, the electrolytic liquid 231 can include a liquid carrier(such as deionized water) and an acid such as nitric acid, acetic acid,hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, or phosphoric acid. In otherembodiments, the electrolytic liquid 231 can include other acids. Inaddition to reducing the pH of the electrolytic liquid 231, the acid canprovide ions to enhance the electrolytic action of the electrolyticliquid 231. In any of these embodiments, the electrolytic liquid 231 canalso optionally include an inhibitor, such as benzotriazole (BTA) toproduce more uniform material removal. The electrolytic liquid 231 canalso include oxidizers, such as hydroxylamine, peroxide or ammoniumpersulfate. In another embodiment, the oxidizers can be eliminated, forexample, when the electrolytic action provided by the electrodes 220 issufficient to oxidize the conductive materials 218 and 209.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the first conductive material 218and the second conductive material 209 external to the recess 216 can beremoved, producing a microelectronic substrate 210 having an embeddedconductive structure 208, as shown in FIG. 2C. In one embodiment, theconductive structure 208 can include a conductive line and in otherembodiments, conductive structure 208 can include a via or other featurein the microelectronic substrate 210. In any of these embodiments, theforegoing processes can provide a conductive structure 208 having asmooth external surface 207 that includes smooth external surfaceportions for both the first conductive material 218 and the secondconductive material 209.

One feature of an embodiment of the method described above withreference to FIGS. 2A-2C is that the pH of the electrolytic liquid 231can be selected to reduce or eliminate the open circuit potentialdifferential between the first conductive material 218 and the secondconductive material 209. An advantage of this feature is that thelikelihood for a galvanic reaction, which can preferentially pit,dissolve, or otherwise remove one of the conductive materials morereadily than the other, can be reduced and/or eliminated. Accordingly,the resulting external surface 207 that includes the first conductivematerial 218 and the second conductive material 209 can be clean anduniform, as shown in FIG. 2C. Another advantage of this feature is thatthe first conductive material 218 and the second conductive material 209can be removed simultaneously without requiring high downforces whichcan damage structures and features of the microelectronic substrate 210.

In the embodiments described above with reference to FIGS. 2A-2C, thefirst and second electrodes 220 a, 220 b are spaced apart from themicroelectronic substrate 210 as they remove conductive materials fromthe microelectronic substrate 210. An advantage of this arrangement isthat the conductive material removal process can be relatively uniform.In other embodiments, one or more of the electrodes can be positioned indirect contact with the microelectronic substrate 210. For example, asshown in FIG. 3, a first electrode 320 a can be positioned in a spacedapart orientation relative to the microelectronic substrate 210, and asecond electrode 320 b can be connected to a rear surface of themicroelectronic substrate 210. A conductive path 308 (such as aninternal via) between the rear surface and the conductive portion 211 ofthe microelectronic substrate can complete the circuit between theelectrodes 320 a, 320 b, allowing the signal transmitter 221 to removeconductive material in a manner generally similar to that describedabove. In still another embodiment, the second electrode 320 b can beconnected directly to the microelectronic substrate 210. Sucharrangements can be used when material removal nonuniformities which mayresult from the direct contact between the electrode and themicroelectronic substrate are remote from regions that might beadversely affected by such nonuniformities.

FIGS. 4-9 illustrate apparatuses for electrolytically,chemically-mechanically, and/or electrochemically-mechanically removingmaterial from microelectronic substrates to perform the processesdescribed above with reference to FIGS. 2A-3. Beginning with FIG. 4, anapparatus 460 can electrolytically remove conductive material from themicroelectronic substrate 210 in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention. In one aspect of this embodiment, the apparatus 460 includesliquid support, such as a vessel 430 containing an electrolytic liquidor gel 431. A support member 440 supports the microelectronic substrate210 relative to the vessel 430 so that the conductive portion 211 of themicroelectronic substrate 210 contacts the electrolytic liquid 431. Inanother aspect of this embodiment, the support member 440 can be coupledto a substrate drive unit 441 that moves the support member 440 and thesubstrate 210 relative to the vessel 430. For example, the substratedrive unit 441 can translate the support member 440 (as indicated byarrow “A”) and/or rotate the support member 440 (as indicated by arrow“B”).

The apparatus 460 can further include a first electrode 420 a and asecond electrode 420 b (referred to collectively as electrodes 420)supported relative to the microelectronic substrate 210 by a support arm424. In one aspect of this embodiment, the support arm 424 is coupled toan electrode drive unit 423 for moving the electrodes 420 relative tothe microelectronic substrate 210. For example, the electrode drive unit423 can move the electrodes 420 toward and away from the conductiveportion 211 of the microelectronic substrate 210, (as indicated by arrow“C”), and/or transversely (as indicated by arrow “D”) in a planegenerally parallel to the conductive portion 211. In other embodiments,the electrode drive unit 423 can move the electrodes 420 in otherfashions, or the electrode drive unit 423 can be eliminated when thesubstrate drive unit 441 provides sufficient relative motion between thesubstrate 210 and the electrodes 420.

In either embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 4, theelectrodes 420 can be coupled to a signal transmitter 421 with leads 428for supplying electrical current to the electrolytic liquid 431 and theconductive portion 211. In operation, the signal transmitter 421 cansupply an alternating current (signal phase or multi-phase) to theelectrodes 420. The current passes through the electrolytic liquid 431and reacts electrochemically with the conductive portion 211 to removematerial (for example, atoms or groups of atoms) from the conductiveportion 211. The electrodes 420 and/or the microelectronic substrate 210can be moved relative to each other to remove material from selectregions of the conductive portion 211, or from the entire conductiveportion 211.

In one aspect of an embodiment of the apparatus 460 shown in FIG. 4, adistance D₁ between the electrodes 420 and the conductive portion 211 isset to be smaller than a distance D₂ between the first electrode 420 aand the second electrode 420 b. Furthermore, the electrolytic liquid 431generally has a higher resistance than the conductive portion 211.Accordingly, the alternating current follows the path of leastresistance from the first electrode 420 a, through the electrolyticliquid 431 to the conductive portion 211 and back through theelectrolytic liquid 431 to the second electrode 420 b, rather than fromthe first electrode 420 a directly through the electrolytic liquid 431to the second electrode 420 b. In one aspect of this embodiment, theresistance of the electrolytic liquid 431 can be increased as thethickness of the conductive portion 211 decreases (and the resistance ofthe conductive portion 211 increases) to maintain the current pathdescribed above. In another embodiment, a low dielectric material (notshown) can be positioned between the first electrode 420 a and thesecond electrode 420 b to decouple direct electrical communicationbetween the electrodes 420 that does not first pass through theconductive portion 211.

FIG. 5 is a partially schematic, side elevation view of an apparatus 560that includes a support member 540 positioned to support themicroelectronic substrate 210 in accordance with another embodiment ofthe invention. In one aspect of this embodiment, the support member 540supports the microelectronic substrate 210 with the conductive portion211 facing upwardly. A substrate drive unit 541 can move the supportmember 540 and the microelectronic substrate 210, as described abovewith reference to FIG. 4. Electrodes 520, including first and secondelectrodes 520 a and 520 b, are positioned above the conductive portion211 and are coupled to a current source 521. A support arm 524 supportsthe electrodes 520 relative to the substrate 210 and is coupled to anelectrode drive unit 523 to move the electrodes 520 over the surface ofthe conductive portion 211 in a manner generally similar to thatdescribed above with reference to FIG. 4.

In one aspect of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the apparatus 560further includes an electrolyte vessel 530 having a supply conduit 537with an aperture 538 positioned proximate to the electrodes 520.Accordingly, an electrolytic liquid 531 can be deposited locally in aninterface region 539 between the electrodes 520 and the conductiveportion 211, without necessarily covering the entire conductive portion211. The electrolytic liquid 531 and the conductive material removedfrom the conductive portion 211 flow over the substrate 210 and collectin an electrolyte receptacle 532. The mixture of electrolytic liquid 531and conductive material can flow to a reclaimer 533 that removes most ofthe conductive material from the electrolytic liquid 531. A filter 534positioned downstream of the reclaimer 533 provides additionalfiltration of the electrolytic liquid 531, and a pump 535 returns thereconditioned electrolytic liquid 531 to the electrolyte vessel 530 viaa return line 536.

In another aspect of an embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the apparatus 560can include a sensor assembly 550 having a sensor 551 positionedproximate to the conductive portion 211, and a sensor control unit 552coupled to the sensor 551 for processing signals generated by the sensor551. The control unit 552 can also move the sensor 551 relative to themicroelectronic substrate 210. In a further aspect of this embodiment,the sensor assembly 550 can be coupled via a feedback path 553 to theelectrode drive unit 523 and/or the substrate drive unit 541.Accordingly, the sensor 551 can determine which areas of the conductiveportion 211 require additional material removal and can move theelectrodes 520 and/or the microelectronic substrate 210 relative to eachother to position the electrodes 520 over those areas. Alternatively,(for example, when the removal process is highly repeatable), theelectrodes 520 and/or the microelectronic substrate 210 can moverelative to each other according to a pre-determined motion schedule.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates an apparatus 660 for electrolytically,chemically-mechanically and/or electrochemically-mechanically polishingthe microelectronic substrate 210 in accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention. In one aspect of this embodiment, the apparatus 660 has asupport table 680 with a top-panel 681 at a workstation where anoperative portion “W” of a polishing pad 683 is positioned. Thetop-panel 681 is generally a rigid plate to provide a flat, solidsurface to which a particular section of the polishing pad 683 may besecured during polishing.

The apparatus 660 can also have a plurality of rollers to guide,position and hold the polishing pad 683 over the top-panel 681. Therollers can include a supply roller 687, first and second idler rollers684 a and 684 b, first and second guide rollers 685 a and 685 b, and atake-up roller 686. The supply roller 687 carries an unused orpreoperative portion of the polishing pad 683, and the take-up roller686 carries a used or postoperative portion of the polishing pad 683.Additionally, the first idler roller 684 a and the first guide roller685 a can stretch the polishing pad 683 over the top-panel 681 to holdthe polishing pad 683 stationary during operation. A motor (not shown)drives at least one of the supply roller 687 and the take-up roller 686to sequentially advance the polishing pad 683 across the top-panel 681.Accordingly, clean preoperative sections of the polishing pad 683 may bequickly substituted for used sections to provide a consistent surfacefor polishing and/or cleaning the microelectronic substrate 210.

The apparatus 660 can also have a carrier assembly 690 that controls andprotects the microelectronic substrate 210 during polishing. The carrierassembly 690 can include a substrate holder 692 to pick up, hold andrelease the microelectronic substrate 210 at appropriate stages of thepolishing process. The carrier assembly 690 can also have a supportgantry 694 carrying a drive assembly 695 that can translate along thegantry 694. The drive assembly 695 can have an actuator 696, a driveshaft 697 coupled to the actuator 696, and an arm 698 projecting fromthe drive shaft 697. The arm 698 carries the substrate holder 692 via aterminal shaft 699 such that the drive assembly 695 orbits the substrateholder 692 about an axis E-E (as indicated by arrow “R₁”). The terminalshaft 699 may also rotate the substrate holder 692 about its centralaxis F-F (as indicated by arrow “R₂”).

The polishing pad 683 and a polishing liquid 689 define a polishingmedium 682 that electrolytically, chemically-mechanically, and/orelectro-chemically-mechanically removes material from the surface of themicroelectronic substrate 210. In some embodiments, the polishing pad683 may be a nonabrasive pad without abrasive particles, and thepolishing liquid 689 can be a slurry with abrasive particles andchemicals to remove material from the microelectronic substrate 210. Inother embodiments, the polishing pad 683 can be a fixed-abrasivepolishing pad in which abrasive particles are fixedly bonded to asuspension medium. To polish the microelectronic substrate 210 with theapparatus 660, the carrier assembly 690 presses the microelectronicsubstrate 210 against a polishing surface 688 of the polishing pad 683in the presence of the polishing liquid 689. The drive assembly 695 thenorbits the substrate holder 692 about the axis E-E and optionallyrotates the substrate holder 692 about the axis F-F to translate thesubstrate 210 across the polishing surface 688. As a result, theabrasive particles and/or the chemicals in the polishing medium 682remove material from the surface of the microelectronic substrate 210 ina chemical and/or chemical-mechanical polishing process.

In a further aspect of this embodiment, the polishing liquid 689 caninclude an electrolyte for electrolytic processing or ECMP processing.In another embodiment, the apparatus 660 can include an electrolytesupply vessel 630 that delivers an electrolyte separately to thepolishing surface 688 of the polishing pad 683 with a conduit 637, asdescribed in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 7. In eitherembodiment, the apparatus 660 can further include a current supply 621coupled to electrodes positioned proximate to the polishing pad 683.Accordingly, the apparatus 660 can electrolytically remove material fromthe microelectronic substrate 210.

FIG. 7 is a partially exploded, partially schematic isometric view of aportion of the apparatus 660 described above with reference to FIG. 6.In one aspect of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the top-panel 681houses a plurality of electrode pairs, each of which includes a firstelectrode 720 a and a second electrode 720 b. The first electrodes 720 aare coupled to a first lead 728 a and the second electrodes 720 b arecoupled to a second lead 728 b. The first and second leads 728 a and 728b are coupled to the current supply 621 (FIG. 6). In one aspect of thisembodiment, the first electrodes 720 a can be separated from the secondelectrodes 720 b by an electrode dielectric layer 729 a that includesTeflon™ or another suitable dielectric material. The electrodedielectric layer 729 a can accordingly control the volume and dielectricconstant of the region between the first and second electrodes 720 a and720 b to control the electrical coupling between the electrodes.

The electrodes 720 a and 720 b can be electrically coupled to themicroelectronic substrate 210 (FIG. 6) by the polishing pad 683. In oneaspect of this embodiment, the polishing pad 683 is saturated with anelectrolytic liquid 731 supplied by the supply conduits 637 throughapertures 738 in the top-panel 681 just beneath the polishing pad 683.Accordingly, the electrodes 720 a and 720 b are selected to becompatible with the electrolytic liquid 731. In an another arrangement,the electrolytic liquid 731 can be supplied to the polishing pad 683from above (for example, by disposing the electrolytic liquid 731 in thepolishing liquid 689, rather than by directing the electrolytic liquidupwardly through the polishing pad 683). Accordingly, the apparatus 660can include a pad dielectric layer 729 b positioned between thepolishing pad 683 and the electrodes 720 a and 720 b. When the paddielectric layer 729 b is in place, the electrodes 720 a and 720 b canbe isolated from physical contact with the electrolytic liquid 731 andcan accordingly be selected from materials that are not necessarilycompatible with the electrolytic liquid 731.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a portion of an apparatus 860 havingelectrodes 820 (shown as a first electrode 820 a and a second electrode820 b), and a polishing medium 882 arranged in accordance with anotherembodiment of the invention. In one aspect of this embodiment, thepolishing medium 882 includes polishing pad portions 883 that projectbeyond the electrodes 820 a and 820 b. Each polishing pad portion 883can include a polishing surface 888 and a plurality of flow passages 884coupled to a fluid source (not shown in FIG. 8) with a conduit 837. Eachflow passage 884 can have an aperture 885 proximate to the polishingsurface 888 to provide an electrolytic liquid 831 proximate to aninterface between the microelectronic substrate 210 and the polishingsurface 888. In one aspect of this embodiment, the pad portions 883 caninclude recesses 887 surrounding each aperture 885. Accordingly, theelectrolytic liquid 831 can proceed outwardly from the flow passages 884while the microelectronic substrate 210 is positioned directly overheadand remains spaced apart from the electrodes 820. In other embodiments,the polishing pad portions 883 can be applied to other electrodes, suchas those described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 to provide formechanical as well as electromechanical material removed.

The foregoing apparatuses described above with reference to FIGS. 4-8can be used to electrolytically, chemically-mechanically and/orelectrochemically-mechanically process the microelectronic substrate210. When the apparatuses are used to electrolytically orelectrochemically-mechanically process the microelectronic substrate210, they can provide a varying electrical current that passes from theelectrodes, through the conductive material of the microelectronicsubstrate 210 via the electrolytic liquid. For example, as shown in FIG.9, the apparatus can generate a high-frequency wave 904 and cansuperimpose a low-frequency wave 902 on the high-frequency wave 904. Inone aspect of this embodiment, the high-frequency wave 904 can include aseries of positive or negative voltage spikes contained within a squarewave envelope defined by the low-frequency wave 902. Each spike of thehigh-frequency wave 904 can have a relatively steep rise-time slope totransfer charge through the dielectric material to the electrolyticliquid, and a more gradual fall-time slope. The fall-time slope candefine a straight line, as indicated by high-frequency wave 904, or acurved line, as indicated by high-frequency wave 904 a. In otherembodiments, the high-frequency wave 904 and the low-frequency wave 902can have other shapes depending, for example, on the particularcharacteristics of the dielectric material and the electrolytic liquid,the characteristics of the microelectronic substrate 210, and/or thetarget rate at which conductive material is to be removed from themicroelectronic substrate 210.

The methods described above with reference to FIGS. 2A-3 may beperformed with the apparatuses described above with reference to FIGS.4-9 in a variety of manners in accordance with several embodiments ofthe invention. For example, in one embodiment, a single apparatus can beused to electrolytically remove first the second conductive material 209and then the first and second conductive materials 218, 209simultaneously. Alternatively, one apparatus can initially remove thesecond material 209 (e.g., via CMP) and the same or another apparatuscan subsequently remove both the first and second conductive materials218, 209. In either embodiment, both the first an second conductivematerials 218, 209 can be removed simultaneously when they are exposed.In one aspect of both embodiments, the downforce applied to themicroelectronic substrate 210 can be reduced or eliminated duringelectrolytic processing. In another aspect of these embodiments, aselected downforce can be applied to the microelectronic substrate 210during electrolytic processing to supplement the electrolytic removalprocess with a mechanical removal process. The electrolytic removalprocess can also be supplemented with a chemical removal process inaddition to or in lieu of the mechanical removal process.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments ofthe invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration,but that various modifications may be made without deviating from thespirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is notlimited except as by the appended claims.

1-54. (Canceled)
 55. An electrolytic liquid for removing first andsecond conductive materials from a microelectronic substrate, the firstconductive material being different than the second conductive material,the electrolytic liquid comprising: a liquid carrier; and an electrolytedisposed in the liquid carrier and configured to transmit electricalsignals from an electrode to the first and second conductive materialsof the microelectronic substrate; wherein a pH of the electrolyticliquid is from about 2 to about
 5. 56. The electrolytic liquid of claim55 wherein the electrolyte includes an acid.
 57. The electrolytic liquidof claim 55 wherein the electrolyte includes at least one ofhydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid andacetic acid.
 58. The electrolytic liquid of claim 55 wherein the liquidcarrier includes deionized water.
 59. The electrolytic liquid of claim55 wherein the pH of the electrolytic liquid is selected to control anabsolute value of a difference between a first open circuit potential ofthe first conductive material and a second open circuit potential of thesecond conductive material to be about 0.50 volts or less.
 60. Theelectrolytic liquid of claim 55 wherein the pH of the electrolyticliquid is selected to control an absolute value of a difference betweena first open circuit potential of the first conductive material and asecond open circuit potential of the second conductive material to beabout 0.25 volts or less.
 61. The electrolytic liquid of claim 55,further comprising an oxidizer.
 62. The electrolytic liquid of claim 55,further comprising an oxidizer selected from hydroxylamine, peroxide andammonium persulfate.
 63. The electrolytic liquid of claim 55, furthercomprising a corrosion inhibitor.
 64. The electrolytic liquid of claim55, further comprising a corrosion inhibitor that includesbenzotriazole.
 65. A system for removing first and second conductivematerials from a microelectronic substrate, the first conductivematerial being different than the second conductive material, the systemcomprising: a substrate support configured to carry a microelectronicsubstrate; at least one electrode positioned at least proximate to thesubstrate support; a liquid support positioned proximate to thesubstrate support to carry an electrolytic liquid in contact with themicroelectronic substrate; and an electrolytic liquid carried by theliquid support, the electrolytic liquid including: a liquid carrier; anelectrolyte disposed in the liquid carrier and configured to transmitelectrical signals from the at least one electrode to the first andsecond conductive materials of the microelectronic substrate, wherein apH of the electrolytic liquid is from about 2 to about
 5. 66. The systemof claim 65 wherein the liquid support includes a liquid vessel.
 67. Thesystem of claim 65 wherein the liquid support includes a polishing padhaving a polishing surface positioned to contact the microelectronicsubstrate, wherein the at least one of the polishing pad and thesubstrate support is movable relative to the other.
 68. The system ofclaim 65 wherein the electrode is a first electrode and wherein thesystem further comprises: a second electrode spaced apart from the firstelectrode; and an electrical signal transmitter coupled to the first andsecond electrodes, wherein the first and second electrodes arepositioned to be spaced apart from the microelectronic substrate whenthe substrate carrier carries the microelectronic substrate.
 69. Thesystem of claim 65, further comprising a sensor positioned to detect anamount of conductive material on the microelectronic substrate.
 70. Thesystem of claim 65 wherein at least one of the at least one electrodeand the substrate support is movable relative to the other.
 71. Thesystem of claim 65 wherein the electrolyte includes at least one ofhydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid andacetic acid.
 72. The system of claim 65 wherein the pH of theelectrolytic liquid is selected to control an absolute value of adifference between a first open circuit potential of the firstconductive material and a second open circuit potential of the secondconductive material to be about 0.50 volts or less.
 73. The system ofclaim 65 wherein the pH of the electrolytic liquid is selected tocontrol an absolute value of a difference between a first open circuitpotential of the first conductive material and a second open circuitpotential of the second conductive material to be about 0.25 volts orless.